Magazine-rifle.



N0. 882,625. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

' J. J. GATRON.

MAGAZINE RIFLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13. 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W; t H woes No. 882,625. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908. J. J. OATRON.

MAGAZINE RIFLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.13, 1907.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

JOHN J. CATRONQOF BONHAM, TEXAS.-

MAGAZINE-RIFLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Application filed August 13, 1907. Serial No. 388,324.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. CATRoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bon-' ham, in the county of Fannin and State of Texas, haveinvented new. and useful Improvements in Magazine-Rifles, of which theollowing is a specification.

My invention pertains to magazine rifles; and it has for one ofitsobjects to provide a simple, compact and strong magazine rifleembodying a combined breech block and cartridge carrier of suchconstruction that differentlengths of cartridges may be used in therifle without diminution of the efficiency thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combined breechblock and car tridge carrier constructed with a View of gripping acartridge at opposite points so as to old the cartridge in a straightline during the withdrawal of the same rearward from the magazine andmove the cartridge vertically to a position in alinement with thebarrel, and insure perfect extraction of a fired cartridge and thesubsequent ejection of the same; the ejection. being effected by thevertical movement/of a fresh cartridge into po-.

sition in alinement with the barrel.

Another object is the provision ina magazine rifle, of improved meansfor securely locking the breech block and cartridge carrier in itsclosed position before it is possible to explode a cartridge, andimproved means for locking the breech block and cartridge carrier whenthe magazine is exhausted so that the breech block and cartridge carriercannot be retracted under such condition except when a certain fingerpiece is manipulated.

Another object is the provision in a magazine rifle, of a magazinewhich, .in proportion to its capacity, is simple in construction andquite short. I

Other objects and advantageous features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following description and claims when the same areread in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part ofthis specification, in which 3 Figure 1 is a broken side elevation ofthe magazine rifle constituting the best embod1- ment of my invention ofwhich I am cognizant; the same. being shown with the stock removed andwith the combined breech block. and cartridge carrier in its closedposition. Fig. 1 is a detail longitudinal section illustrative of theclosure at the forward end of the magazine tube. Fig. 2 comprises adetail view in side elevation of the left hand side of the front sectionof the "take-down rifle shown, and a similar view of the rear section ofsaid rifle, the said views'being separated. Fig. 3 is a detail, broken,longitudinal Vertical section of the rifle with the combined breechblock and cartridge carrier locked in its closed position. Fig. 4 is asimilar view of the same, with the combined breech block and cartridgecarrier in its open position. Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal verticalsection showing the means for locking the combined breech block andcartridge carrier in its closed position. v left hand side of thecombined breech block and cartridge carrier, and Fig. 6 a detaillongitudinal vertical section. Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken in theplane indicated by the line 7 7 of Fig. 5, with the combined breechblock and cartridge carrier and the rear section-21. e-., the section atthe right of Fig. 2, removed. Fig. 8 is a erspective view of thecombined breech b ock and cartridge carrier, removed. Fig. 9 is across-section Fig. 4 is a detail top plan view:

Fig. 6 is an elevation of theof the same, taken in the lane indicated bythe line 99 of Fig. 8. verse section taken in the line 101 0 of Fig. 5,

1gerspective view of the cartridge elevator.

ig. 10 is a translane indicated by ig. 12 is a detail perspective viewof the de.

e combined breech block vice for locking t position,

and cartridge carrier near its closed when the magazine is empty.

g. 11 is a deta l Similar letters 'designate corresponding parts in allof the views of the drawings, re

erring to which:

A is the rear section, and B the front section of the take-down type ofrifle constituting the referred embodiment of my invention. T e rear.section A is provided with the usual means for the connection of a stock(not shown), and with the usual or any other suitable hammer a, triggerb and hammer-impelling spring 0; and it is also provided with a shoulder11, a threaded aperture e and a notch e] at its left hand side while atits right-hand side is provided a forwardly extending platef having areduced P01131011 g which terminates at its forward end in a toe h.

In addition to other elements hereinafter pointed out in detail, thefront section B of the take-down embodiment comprises a barrel '5 and aframe or housing fixed with up of a front wall j in the rear side ofwhich is a shallow socket 7c and vertical depre ssions L, Fig. 7, aleft-hand side plate Zhaving & transverse-aperture m and a rearwardlyextending tongue n, and a top wall p, cut away as indicated by r andbest shown in Figs. 4 and 7. When the sections A and B are put togetherin proper relation, the toe h of section A enters the socket 7c ofsection B, see dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the tongue n of section Bsnugly occupies the notch e of section A, Fig. 2. A screw C, Fig. 1, isthen manipulated to put its shank through the aperture m of section Band into the threaded aperture e of section A, when, as will be readilyapparent the sections will be strongly connected together withoutliability of one section casually moving with respect to the other, andyet when it is desired to take the rifle-downt. e., separate thesections A and B, the same may be easily and expeditiously accomplishedafter the screw C is removed. At this point I desire to record the factthat while I prefer to employ the take-down construction described, I donot wish to be understood as confining myself to the same inasmuch asthe main portion or frame of the rifle may, in the discretion of themanufacturer, be made in de tachably connected sections or in onesection, without involving departure from the scope of my invention asdefined in the claims appended.

Fbred to the underside of the barrel "i and communicating with anopening 8 in the front wall 7' of the breech frame or housing is a tubeD, provided at an intermediate point of itslength with an opening twhich is designed for the introduction of cartridges and is enlarged atits rear end, as indicated by u, to permit the passage of cartridgeflanges. The said tube D has an abutment o adjacent to its forward endand a socket 1/) at said end, and it serves in combination with afollower a: and a spring y backing the follower, to form the magazine ofmy novel rifle. ward end, the stem of the follower 2c is provided with afinger piece 2 which normally rests in the socket w, Figs. 1 and 3, andpresents a compact and neat appearance. In charging the magazine, thefollower so is drawn forward, against the action of spring y, to a pointin front of the opening 25, and the cartridges are introduced one by onethrough said pipening. After the cartridges are introduce as stated, thefollower is released, when, as will be readily apparent, the tendency ofthe s ring to expand will force the follower at an the cartridgesrearward subsequent to the removal of the rearmost cartridge from the magazine in the manner hereinafter pointed out.

At its forseaeae the foregoing it will be observed that the magazine maybe made quite short without reducing its capacity below the practicalpoint, which is obviously an important advantage.

E is a hand-piece movable rearwardly and forwardly on the magazine tubeD and guided by the latter.

F is a bar fixedly connected to the hand opening a, Fig. 7, in the frontwail of the breech frame or housing and having a notch b, Fi 5;, in its'lower edge,and also having an enlargement c, Fig. 5, at its rear end,movable rectilinearly in the breech frame or housing and slotted at (1.

G is the combined breech-block and cartridge carrier to which is pivoteda verticallyswinging piece H, Fig. 6, having a lateral stud f, disposedin the slot cl ofbar F, whereby the breech-block and carrier derivesrectilinear movement from said bar F.

I is the cartridge elevator which is pivoted at g in the breech frame orhousing.

J is the device for locking the combined breech block and cartridgecarrier in its closed position, when the magazine is empty, and K, Fig.if, is a spring disposed below said device J and designed to return thesame to and normally retain it in the position shown in Fig. 4. Thecombined breech block and cartridge carrier G'is provided on its forwardend adjacent to one side, preferably its left hand side, with aninwardly directed flange 6 which extends u ward from a point adjacent toits lower edge, as best shown in Fig. 8. The opposite or right hand sideof the combined breech block and cartridge carrier G is recessed, asindicated by and in the said recess is arranged a resilient or springplate M which is fixedly connected at its rear end to the block andcarrier, and is provided at its forward end with an inwardly-directedflange it" which extends upward from the recess hand is regulated andheld against springing outward to an undue extent by a screw Z whichextends through it and into the block and cartridge carrier. Thecombined breech block and carrier G is horizontally notched at iimmediately below the flanges i and 7c; and it carries a springcushionedfiring pin N which is recessed in 'one side as indicated by i, Figs. 6and 6*, and is designed to cooperate with the piece H as presentlydescribed. Said breech block and cartridge carrier G is also provided inits lower side and forward end with a slot m for the play of thecartridge elevator I. g This latter comprises a rear, upwardly extendimarm n and a forward and comparal tively long arm 1) having a lip 1" atits forward end.

i The forward end of the said slot m is provided, as shown in Figs. 8and 9. with an By virtue of the construction described in 1 intermediateportion of decreased width piece E and extending rearward through an 7:!e., a portion too narrow for:the passage 10 ready to be fired,theelevator I is in the osi- .tion shown in Fig. 3. After the rifle isred, the combined breechblock and cartridge carrier-is .drawnfrearwardwhereupon it cooperates. with the arm nofthezelevator I to causetheiarmip" thereof to rise quickly to the position where: the lip r canpass through the upper enlarged. portion i .ofslot m on the: succeeding.forward movement of the combined breech blockand cartridge carrier.

As soon as the lip r asses throughithe' said enlarged portion Utfie-rear.and major portion:of the slotm, which is about as .wide as the portioni,- permits the lip 7" to move to .thetpositionshown in Fig. 3;theforward movement of the combined breech block and cartridgecarrierservingbyengaging and depressing the=elevlator arm p to move thelip r to theposition last*stated.

At the commencement of the described .30 rearward movement 'ofthecombined breech block and cartridge carrier, the lip ron the elevatorarmp--passesupward from the lower large portion of the slot m to aposi-' tion -in frontof the lower end-of the narrow,

'35- intermediate portion ofsaid slot, and should :the operator attemptareversal 'of the actioni- 6., forward movement of thecom- -bined breechblock and before the cartridge that-is-being raised is to-high enough toenter the; barrel, t'he notch i will engage'the lip r and therebyprevent such reversal of th'e action A flat-sprin 1 ,8110 by dottedlines in Fig. 3 andfull ines in 4, lies against the side of thecartridge elevator I and prevents too 'free swinging movement of saidelevator and thereby assures it remaining in the position in which it-isleft. 1

The lower corner H of the swin ing piece H is designed to-cooperate witha e ression H in-the breech frame, Fig. 6 to ock the breech" block andcartridge carrier in its closed position. In this connection, it will beseenthat when the hammer a is cooked 55.. or half cocked while thebreech block and cartridge carrier G is-in its closed position, thefiring pin N--is pushed rearward by its spring N 3 so that its portionin front of its recess irests 'abovethe' iece H and holds the latteragainst upward movement. When, however, the hammer acts against therearend of the firing pin NY to force thepin forward and fire the gun, =therecess i in the firin pin assumes a position above the upwar 1 directedarm of the piece H and con- I vice is depressed bythe cartridge carrierG on forward-movement cartridge carrier,

applied to. the hand-grip E, said-bloc sequently the said. piece is freeto move ,up-

ward to unlockth'e breech block and cartridge carrier G from the breechframe. It will also be seen that-when thebar F is moved forward tocarrythe breech block and cartridge carrier G to its closed position, theslot d. in the portion 0: cooperates'with'the stud f on piece H to drawthe arm of said piece down out of the recess in the firing in N and onrearward movement of the ar F, said slot (1 cooperates with the stud IIfto raise the upwardly-reaching arm oft piece H into the recess of thefiring pin N.

The locking device J is pivoted at s." in the breech frame orhousing,and is provided -with afiDger-piece t and a lateral arm. a; the latterbeing arranged to seat in the notch b of the translating bar F when themagazine is empty, after the manner shownin Fig. 5 ythis with a view ofpreventing the operator working the rifle when there are-no cartridgesin the magazine.

The vertically disposed thereof and lets the rearmost cartridge out ofthe magazine. Said vertically-disposed portion also extends into themagazine tube I a slight distance,- Fig. 4, and from this it followsthat in the event of the flanges i it failing to catch-the rearmostcartridge, incident to rearwardzmovement of the breech block andcartridge carrier, the device J, in rising under the action of thespring beneath" it, will catch said cartridge and hold it in-position tobe engaged by the breech block and cartridge carrier on the subsequentforward movement ofthe latter.

: The 0 eration of my novel magazine'irifie is as fol ows: Cartridgesare'placed in the.

magazine in the manner'before describedein detail, and arepressedrearward in the magazine tube D and against the device J bythespring-pressed follower :11, as shown in Fig.4.

When the combined breechblock and cartridge carrier G is moved forwardby power and carrier presses the device J- slightlyedownward, and at thesame time. the flange kis pressed outward by-bringing up againstitheeveled surface i 'Fig. 7, whereupon the head of the rearmost cartridgeis pushed between the flanges i k by themagazine spring. Then as thebreech block and cartridge carrier re'cedes. the flanges ik gripthecar-' tridg e. When the combinednbreech-block and cartridge-carrier G ismoved rearward by power applied to the handgrip E, the cartridgementioned is drawn rearward, and'the next forward cartridgeassumesthe-position shown in Fig. 4 relative" to tl1'e device J.Du'ringithe rearward movement of the block G, the cartridge elevator Iis-rocked by the engagement of the block G with the rear armn of theelevator with the result that the ortion of the debreech block andforward arm of the elevator will be thrown up and caused to raise thefirst mentioned cartridge bet een the opposed flanges i and of thebreech block and cartridge carrier. Incident .to the said upwardmovement of the cartridge first mentioned and while it is moving intoalinement with the barrel "i it serves to eject the empty shellextracted from the barrel on the preceding rearward movement of thebreech block and cartridge carrier. Then hen the breech block andcartridge carrier is moved forward, the first mentioned cartridge iscarried into proper position in the rear end of the barrel, and thedevice J is depressed to permit the rearmost cartridge in the magazineto assume the position shown in Fig. 3.. During the rearvi ard and forard movements of the breech block and cartridge carrier, the swingingdevice H and the firing pin N operate in the manner hereinbefore setforth in detail to lock the breech block and cartridge carrier in itsclosed position and to preclude forward movement of the firing )in underthe im act of the hammer (L unti after the lHEBCh lLlOCk and cartridgecarrier is locked in said position.

In Figs. 3 and 4 of the draw ings, a plurality ofcartridges of evenlength are shown, but because of the comparatively long traverse of theblock G, see l ig. 4, it will be observed that my novel rifle is.adapted to handle cartridges of even length or cartridges of mixedlengths with equal facilitv which is an im' ortant desideratum.

When the magazine is empty, and it is desired to move the combinedbreech block and cartridge carrier rearward, the hammer must be let downon the firing pin and the device J be drawn downward by hand, afterwhich the hand-grip E is moved rearward.

ltwill be gathered from the foregoing that my novel magazine rifle isreliable and safe in operation and at the same time is simple andcompact in construction, and is ell adapted to withstand the usage towhich magazine rifles are ordinarily subjected; and it w ill also hegathered that the cartridges are in plan view as they enter the barreli.

The rifle herein illustrated and described constitutes the preferredembodiment of my invention, but it is obvious that in practice suchchanges or modifications may be made as fairly fall within the scope ofmy invention as defined in the claims appended.

I would have itunderstood that the term rifle as herein employedcomprehend a gun, pistol or any other tire arm in which my improvementsmay be used to advantage.

Having described my invention, what i claim and desire to secure byLetters is:

1. In a magazine rifle, the comb a barrel, a magazine, a breech fran isintended to '3- L c i aient,

with respect thereto, a combined breech block. and cartridge carriermovable in said frame, means for translating the combined breech blockand cartridge carrier, a device for controlling the rearward feed ofcartridges and automatically locking the breech block and cartridgecarrier near its foremost position when the magazine is empty, and meansfor elevating a cartridge in the combined breech block and cartridgecarrier.

2. In a magazine rifle, the combination of a barrel, 2. magazine, abreech frame fixed to the barrel and magazine, a breech block andcartridge carrier movable in the frame and having a slot in itsunderside and forward end, the intermediate portion of the forward endof-which is comparativel narrow and also having a horizontal noteintersecting the said narrowportion of the slot, and a cartridgeelevator mounted in the slot of the frame and arranged to be moved bythe block and having a lip for cooperation with the said horizontalnotch of the block.

- 3. in a magazine rifle, the combination of a barrel, a magazine, abreech frame fixed with respect thereto, a combined breech block andcartridge carrier movable in said frame and arranged to grip a cartridgeat opposite sides thereof, means for translating the combined breechblock and cartridge carrier, a device for controlling the rearward feedof cartridges and automatically locking the breech block and cartridgecarrier near its foremost position, when the magazine is empty, andmeans for elevating a cartridge in the combined breech block andcartridge carrier.

4. In a magazine rifle, a barrel, a magazine, abreech frame fixed withrespect thereto, a combined breech block and cartridge carrier movablein said frame and arranged to grip a cartridge at opposite sidesthereof, means for translating the combined breech block and cartridgecarthe combination of rier, a device for controlling the rearward feedof cartridges and automatically locking the breech block and cartridgecarrier near its foremost position, when the magazine is empty, and adevice mounted in the breech frame and operated by the combined breechblock and cartridge carrier for elevating a cartridge in said block andcarrier incident to rearward movement thereof.

5. in a magazine rifle, the combination of a barrel, a magazine arrangedunder the barrel, a breech frame fixed with respectto the barrel andmagazine; a hand-grip movable on and guided by the magazine, a barconnected to and movable with the hand grip and extending through anopening in the front all of the breech frame and having a a combinedbreech-block and carcarrier arranged in said frame and con nec red andmovable with said bar said breech block and cartridge carrier havingflanges for engaging opposite sides of a cartridge, a pivoted lockingdevice arranged in the breech frame below and in rearof the magazine andhaving an arm for engaging the notch in the said bar, when the magazineis empty said device being also arranged to control the rearward feed ofcartridges, and a device mounted in the breech frame and operated by thebreech block and cartridge carrier for elevating a cartridge in saidblock and carrier incident to rearward movement thereof.

6. in a magazine rifle, the combination of a barrel, a magazine arrangedthereunder, a breech frame fixed with respect to the barrel andmagazine, a combined breech block andcartridge carrier arranged intheframe; said block and carrier having a fixed inwardly directed flangeat one side of its forward. end and a resilient inwardly directed flangeat the other side of said end, means for translating the block andcarrier, means for moving a cartridge from a position in alinement withthe magazine to a position in alinement with the barrel, and means forchecking the rearward movement of cartridges in the magazine and forlocking the breech block and cartridge carrier near its foremostposition, when the magazine is empty.

7. In a magazine rifle, the combination of a barrel, a magazine arrangedthereunder, a breech frame fixed with respect to the barrel andmagazine, a reciprocatory breech block and cartridge carrier for takingcartridges from the magazine and putting the same in the barrel, acartridge elevating lever mounted in the breech frame and having aforward arm movable in the breech block and carrier and a rear armarranged to be engaged by said block and carrier, and means for checkingrearward movement of cartridges in the magazine and for locking thebreech block and carrier near its closed position, when the magazine isempty.

8. In a magazine rifle, the combination of a barrel, amagazine arrangedthereunder, a breech frame fixed with respect to the barrel andmagazine, a reciprocatory breech block and cartridge carr er having aslot in its lower edge and forward end and also having inwardly directedflanges on its forward end; one of said flanges being resilient, acartridge elevating lever mounted in the breech frame and having aforward arm movable up and down in the slot of the block or carrier anda rear, upwardly-extending arm arranged in rear of and adapted to bemoved by the block and carrier, and means for checking rearward movementof cartridges in the magazine and for locking the block and carrier nearits closed position, when the magazine is empty.

9. A breech block and cartridge carrier for a magazine rifle, comprisinga body having a vertical flange at its forward end and ad acent to oneof its sides, a resilient plate at- I tached at its rear l i i I end tothe opposite side of the body and having its forward end extended beyondthe body and provided with an inwardly directed flange, and a regulatingscrew for said resilient plate.

10. In a magazine rifle, the combination of a barrel, a magazinearranged under the barrel, a breech frame fixed with respect to thebarrel and magazine, a hand-grip movable on and guided by the magazine,a bar connected to and movable with the handgrip and extending throughan opening in the front wall of the breech frame and having i a notch, acombined breech block and cartridge carrier arranged in said frame andconnected and movable with said bar, a )ivoted locking device arrangedin the breec 1 frame below and in rear of the magazine and having an armfor engaging the notch in the said bar when the magazine is empty saiddevice being also arranged to control the rearward feed of cartridges,and means for elevating a cartridge in the breech block and cartridgecarrier.

11. In a magazine rifle, the combination of a barrel, a magazine, abreech frame fixed with respect thereto, a combined breech block andcartridge carrier movable in said frame, means for translating thecombined breech block and cartridge carrier, a firing pin carried by thecombined breech block and cartridge carrier, a device, for controllingthe rearward feed of cartridges and automatic-' ally locking the breechblockand cartridge carrier near its foremost position when the magazineis empty, means for elevating acartridge in the combined breech blockand airtridge carrier, and means arranged in one position to lock thecombined breech block and cartridge carrier in its closed position tothe breech frame, and in another position to lock the firing pin againstforward movement with respect'to the combined breech block and cartridgecarrier.

12. in a rifle of the magazine type, the combination of a barrel, amagazine, a breech frame fixed with respect thereto and having adepression in the inner side of its lower portion, a combined breechblock and cartridge carrier movable in said frame, a spring-cushionedfiring pin carried by the combined breech block and cartridge carrierand having' a recess, a device for controlling the rearward feed ofcartridges and automatically locking I the combined breech block andcartridge carrier near its foremost position when the magazine is empty,means for elevating a cartridge in the combined breech block andcartridge carrier, a vertically swinging piece for locking the combinedbreech block and cartridge carrier and the firing pin; the said )iecebeing pivoted to the said combined breech block and cartridge carrierand having a lateral pin, and a bar to which the combined breech blockand cartridge carrier is .the barrel and magazine,

translated, having an inclined slot receiving the pin on the swingingpiece.

13. In a magazine rifle, the combination of a barrel, a magazine, abreech frame fixed to '1 a breech block and cartridge carrier movable inthe frame and having vertical fianges,oneof which is resilient, providedwith inwardly-directed porl tions, and also having a slot in itsunderside and forward end, the intermediate portion 1 of 'the forwardend of which is comparatively narrow, and a, horizontal notchintersecting said narrow portion of the slot at a point below saidflanges, and a cartridge elevator mounted in the slot of the frame andarranged to be moved by the block and having a lip for cooperation withthe said horizontal notch of the block.

14. In a magazine rifle, the combination-0f a barrel, a magazine, abreech frame fixed with respect thereto and having a beveled portion atone side of the mouth of the magazine, and a breech block and cartridgecari rier movable in the frame and having cartridge engaging flanges;one of which is rej whereby it is capable of moving laterally, and isprovided with a beveled portion to engage the beveled portion at theforward end of the breech frame.

15. In a magazine rifle, the combination of a barrel, a magazine, abreech frame fixed with respect thereto and having a beveled portion atone side of the mouth of the magaand a breech block and cartridgecarrier movable in the frame and having cartridge engaging flanges, oneof which is resilient, whereby it is capable of moving laterally, and isprovided with a beveled portion to engage the beveled portion at theforward silient,

end of the breech frame, and a cartridge elevator mounted in the frameand movable by the breech block and cartridge carrier.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in vpresence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. CATRON.

Witnesses R. T. Lrrsooma, R. M. BOHANNON.

